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BuzzJack Music Forum _ R&B and Hip-Hop _ Alicia Keys - HERE
Posted by: Jake 4th May 2016, 05:21 AM
not bad, she's performing on snl this weekend
Posted by: Jonjo 4th May 2016, 06:20 AM
Very nice. Always nice to have her back 
Posted by: Mattias 4th May 2016, 07:18 AM
I'm finding this quite stunning. Love her
Posted by: Davidson 4th May 2016, 10:47 AM
Not sure it sounds like a massive return to commercial success but what a gorgeous song
Alicia is always one of my favs, so happy to see her return finally. Hoping this album is a step up from 'Girl On Fire' as that was her worst effort to date for sure. I have faith though.
Posted by: Davidson 4th May 2016, 05:02 PM
After this being on repeat all day I take back what I said about it not sounding commercial.
The more I listen the more I think it could actually be a successful comeback from her. Really reminds me of the stuff Drake has been releasing and therefore it is sounding very current and fresh. It is so fantastic.
Posted by: Jack 4th May 2016, 05:16 PM
Yes, I love Alicia and I think she is very underrated in the grand scheme of things despite her longevity. This is the perfect comeback single to me, agreed that it sounds very Drake which is no bad thing .
Posted by: ♦ ketalina ♦ 4th May 2016, 08:07 PM
omg
i ADORE that!
Posted by: AaronTM 4th May 2016, 08:26 PM
Ooh I really like this! I agree with the comments that it has a Drake ~vibe, but that's no bad thing. Very fresh and will hopefully do well in the charts. I wasn't sure she'd be able to turn it around after a disappointing (though semi-successful) era last time.
Posted by: Hayzayy 5th May 2016, 06:26 PM
I LOVE this. The way she sings it is so subtle and new, I love it. Can't wait for the album.
Oh and I can get the Rihanna comparison because of the "tropical" sound. But to be fair Justin Bieber made it popular even before Rihanna 
Posted by: Mack 5th May 2016, 08:31 PM
Good to have her back. Very good song this from her. Different to what she has done.
Posted by: Davidson 9th May 2016, 10:09 PM
Another fantastic new song from the album. I forgot just how much I loved her voice live
Posted by: Scene 11th May 2016, 03:54 PM
Oh my God this actually quite good. 'Girl On Fire', 'Try Sleeping...' and 'Put It In A Love Song' aside, I find a lot of her material dull and samey. But props to her for changing things up a bit with this single.
Posted by: Noahspike 12th May 2016, 01:50 AM
Two listens in and I'm in love . It's funny because I always found 'Girl On Fire' overly dated and never got into it but this is the polar opposite as a lead single - feels simultaneously left field and like it'd fit perfectly in the current landscape, and obviously its appeal has been very instant for me. Interesting lyrical approach to a simple subject matter.
'Hallelujah' is also impressive. Watching her two SNL performances really demonstrates not only her immense vocal talent but her ability to use and control her voice in contrasting ways depending on each song's context. It'd be very easy for her to show it off more on 'In Common', but her restraint is perfect.
Posted by: Jake 12th May 2016, 05:44 AM
Another fantastic new song from the album. I forgot just how much I loved her voice live
immense / once or twice in a generation
i never thought much of her during my teens but she's so obviously exceptional.
'try sleeping...' was a good point and she's only excelled beyond that
Posted by: Jack 12th May 2016, 07:03 AM
Unthinkable is when I really started to take notice of her tbh.
Posted by: mr_pmt 12th May 2016, 08:31 AM
I was only just made aware of this, it's really good! Interesting musically, sort of reminds me of 'Take Care' (as Drake comparisons have been made in this thread already)
Posted by: Davidson 12th May 2016, 11:33 AM
'In Common' has been on repeat so much this last week to the point that it is my 7th most played song on iTunes ever now 
I am so so obsessed.
Posted by: Scene 14th May 2016, 11:52 AM
I adore this.
It gives me 'Te Amo' vibes but more up-to-date.
Posted by: Parallel Reality 31st May 2016, 08:33 PM
Just heard 'In Control' on the music channel and it sounded very good on first listen!
'Try Sleeping...', 'Doesn't Mean Anything' and 'Brand New Me' are some of my favourites from her more recent eras. May have to listen to some of her back catalogue now!
Posted by: KWEEN_DEE 31st May 2016, 09:52 PM
She's just such a great artist... I forget about her until she rolls round with a new album and then I'm reobsessed. Shame I missed her London gig last week 
Posted by: Liаm 7th June 2016, 04:09 PM
In Common has really hit me, what a wonderful song <3 Really hope it can eventually go top 10, it'd be #1 in a shot if it was Drake
Posted by: Mattias 7th June 2016, 06:50 PM
'In Common' is so so beautifullll
Posted by: Scene 7th June 2016, 07:23 PM
I finally downloaded this today. It's stuck in my head. Who knew Alicia could be so phenomenal.
Posted by: Regina 7th June 2016, 07:43 PM
Anyone who has heard a song by her before.
Posted by: Scene 7th June 2016, 10:34 PM
Well for the past however many years she has created pretty bland music (bar one or two songs). This song is a welcome change in tempo.
Posted by: TheHipHopRecords 8th June 2016, 01:25 AM
Total garbage. Normally i like Alicia's stuff but this wack as hell. It's a dance track but yet she is RnB. Right ? Seems like a rushed song
Posted by: casey__ 8th June 2016, 09:49 AM
one of the best songs of this year, im completely on board for this era. 'Girl On Fire' was disappointing and this is a welcome change to her usual sound.
Posted by: Regina 8th June 2016, 09:50 AM
I wasn't keen on this at first, but after her Graham Norton performance it's really grown on me.
But you're a Leona stan, isn't that your thing?
Posted by: Liаm 8th June 2016, 09:58 AM
It's not really dance, it's just a different kind of R&B really. It's just got a sort of Caribbean tropical/dancehall vibe, it's more modern R&B than her usual stuff, she's moving with the times which is good.
Posted by: Davidson 8th June 2016, 11:38 AM
This is definitely in my top 5 songs of 2016.
Just so wonderful.
Posted by: Scene 8th June 2016, 12:38 PM
I really don't understand how you constantly get away with being rude on this forum. Am I not allowed to express my opinion because I'm a fan of Leona? Grow up.
Posted by: Davidson 18th June 2016, 11:06 AM
So gorgeous. Love how raw and unprocessed the vocals sound.
She really is on fire this era so far.
Posted by: Liаm 18th June 2016, 11:32 AM
God that's stunning, her vocals are ridiculous
Posted by: Davidson 13th August 2016, 12:21 PM
New remix of 'In Common' featuring Kanye and Travis Scott out there now.
Seems entirely pointless and unneeded to me but I suppose anything to get it a little more attention is good, even despite it sounding so clunky. So gutted this passed most people by and didn't manage to do anything either side of the Atlantic. Definitely in my top 3 songs Alicia has ever released and one of the best songs of 2016.
Posted by: ssiKiss 13th August 2016, 01:18 PM
THIS.
She can handle a flop but this deserved more. Let's hope the album doesn't suffer the same fate..!
Posted by: mr_pmt 13th August 2016, 01:36 PM
'In Common' worked its way to become my second favourite of hers behind 'Try Sleeping...', I just love it. It deserved so much more.
Posted by: Noahspike 13th August 2016, 01:52 PM
Always great when an undeserved flop is recognised as such and isn't forgotten on forums etc., especially when subtlety is central to the appeal of a song like 'In Common', and it could be seen simply as a failed attempt to chase trends. I completely agree that it's a career peak of hers, which is obviously no small feat. I'll always think highly of it.
Posted by: Jandeep 13th August 2016, 03:31 PM
What I would really like is another "try sleeping with a broken heart" although just a minor top 10 hit, it was very good and my favourite of hers. The majority of the success of the parent album (can't remember name) was mostly down to New York constantly being played.
However great Try sleeping..... was I feel it was very of its time and Girl on fire (song) not really having same magic. I could though be wrong and she could have a huge Prince influenced song this fall.
Posted by: SeanGrey 13th August 2016, 08:37 PM
However great Try sleeping..... was I feel it was very of its time and Girl on fire (song) not really having same magic. I could though be wrong and she could have a huge Prince influenced song this fall.
The Element Of Freedom was the album - for me I love Doesn't Mean Anything and Love Is Blind! I like In Common - it's a solid song even if some of the lyrics in the second half don't really make sense to me (what even is that line about suppliers before randomly hopping into the chorus?
) Hopefully with her appearance on The Voice that'll remind people she's still around as its been nearly four years since Girl On Fire!
Posted by: Davidson 5th September 2016, 09:39 PM
Hoping this is also on the album. I love the way the production suddenly switches up; she is really bringing her A game right now.
Posted by: Scene 6th September 2016, 12:54 PM
Love the song post-switch up, not a fan of the first half but I guess there wouldn't be the switch-up without it.
Posted by: Davidson 6th September 2016, 02:37 PM
The production is so different for her but I think it works so well
Posted by: Davidson 6th October 2016, 04:45 PM
Apparently the official second single called 'Blended Family' is about to premiere and it features ASAP Rocky.
Posted by: Juan Carlos 🕊 7th October 2016, 03:25 AM
The album is called HERE and it will be released on November 4. Her new single "Blended Family (What You Do For Love)" is available as an instant grat.
Posted by: Davidson 7th October 2016, 10:39 AM
I'm kind of glad 'Blended Family' is only an instant grat for the moment.
The more I listen to it the more I love it, it is so classic Alicia. So beautifully melodic and so well put together. I just kinda want something a bit more punchy for the second single seeing as 'In Common' sounded so fresh and exciting and this sounds fantastic but more in a 'it could have appeared on any of her other albums' kinda way.
Posted by: JosephStyles 7th October 2016, 11:02 AM
I think it is the next proper single! josepvinaixa seems to think it is and he's normally correct anyway.
I really like this anyway, In Common never properly hit me but this has done it instantly. Hopefully it can at least be a small hit for her too, I think it's more likely to catch your average radio listener's ear.
Posted by: Davidson 10th October 2016, 12:51 PM
Apparently 'Hallelujah' and 'In Common' have been relegated to bonus track status as tracks 17 and 18.
So disappointed as they were why I was so excited for this album. I consider them two of her best tracks ever and I don't see her having commercial success this era anyway so why does it matter.
Posted by: Bjork 10th October 2016, 01:10 PM
not sure how she'll do in the UK but in the US right now she's more popular than ever... cos of the Voice, I mean, being judge in one of the most popular US shows, being pushed in front of an audience of 10 millions twice a week, in a show that never benefits the contestants but the judges 
even some of her old songs are randomly showing up on itunes all the time
but agree its a pity In Common is not gonna be in the standard edition of the album, she's doing a bit like Usher, who released a bunch of tracks prior to the album to see what was people interested in, and then threw most of them away
Posted by: mr_pmt 11th October 2016, 06:43 PM
That is disgusting! 'In Common' is her second best song ever.
Posted by: Davidson 16th October 2016, 03:06 PM
This sounds f***ing incredible. I love the mix of old school hip hop beats with the piano; this is the most natural she has ever sounded.
I really think she is going to release not only the album of her career but one of the albums of the year. It just feels like she is at the perfect place artistically.
Posted by: Davidson 31st October 2016, 05:56 PM
Tracklist:
01 - The Beginning (Interlude)
02 - The Gospel
03 - Pawn It All
04 - Elaine Brown (Interlude)
05 - Kill Your Mama
06 - She Don't Really Care / Luv
07 - Elevate (Interlude)
08 - Illusion Of Bliss
09 - Blended Family (What You Do For Love) ft. A$AP Rocky
10 - Work On It
11 - Cocoa Butter (Cross & Pic Interlude)
12 - Girl Can't Be Herself
13 - You Glow (Interlude)
14 - More Than We Know
15 - Where Do We Begin Now
16 - Holy War
17 - Hallellujah (International Bonus)
18 - In Common (International Bonus)
Posted by: notfurlong 31st October 2016, 06:43 PM
In Common is literally a contender for song of the year??? what an injustice.
Posted by: Bjork 1st November 2016, 08:54 AM
too many interludes!!!!
Posted by: Davidson 3rd November 2016, 12:46 PM
Going to have to let this album settle a tad but from my first listen I am rather blown away.
'The Gospel', 'Pawn It All', 'Girl Can't Be Herself' and especially the game changing ''Illusion Of Bliss' (that vocal delivery) are really sticking out to me as absolute career highlights.
I'm a tad annoyed that 'In Common' isn't on here but actually when listening in full I can understand why it is excluded, with regards to consistency. This album just sounds so authentic, so wonderfully tied to her place of birth, so real. I know some people will moan about the interludes but I love them. They add to the overall autheticity in the same way they do in an album like 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'. Some elements of this album really give me throwbacks to that (which is amazing as it is my favourite album of all time) but at the same time it is all so quintessentially classic Alicia.
This is really her coming into herself artistically and it is wonderful to see/hear.
Posted by: dandy* 5th November 2016, 09:02 PM
I had a first listen to this earlier and I was really impressed, the album sounded really coherent and reminded me more of a nod towards an Erykah Badu album that your normal Alicia Keys style.
Posted by: vibe 7th November 2016, 06:59 PM
Hmm I need to give more listens but this album didn't really do anything for more . It's obviously very political but it didn't connect or make me emote .
Posted by: Davidson 8th November 2016, 09:54 PM
Can't believe this isn't even going to make the top 20 in the UK.
This could become my favourite Alicia record ever and yet no-one seems to be interested. Such a shame her star has fallen when I really feel she's at her A-game.
Posted by: vibe 9th November 2016, 07:50 PM
where did this chart ?
Posted by: mr_pmt 9th November 2016, 08:50 PM
It's midweeked at #17.
Posted by: Bjork 10th November 2016, 12:19 PM
listening now, it's a very classic soul album, Blended Family and Holy War were a good indication of where the album was going
and yes I get why In Common is not there, but still, she could have maybe re-recorded it in a more classic style without the tropical beats
Posted by: »ïïïïïïïïïïïïï. 2nd January 2017, 10:26 PM
Great album! I can feel her passion and urge the most on this one. Love the raw version of her music and image, without it being too 'forced'. And...I have the feeling her best work is still to come.
Shame the album (and singles) don't set the charts alight 
Posted by: Davidson 11th February 2017, 02:30 PM
Can we discuss this as being probably the best live vocal performance of her career???
Spellbound.
Posted by: »ïïïïïïïïïïïïï. 14th February 2017, 06:29 PM
Thanks for that! Perfect without being perfect I hope there will be a tour soon so I can enjoy this real life 
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